I noticed on the Hocus-Pocus website, they have the Driebeck Die for sale. Everything looks on the up-and-up, and from the photos, it looks well-made.

I've always liked the effect, but am not sure how strongly it plays. Does anyone do the effect/routine? It seems I may have seen Mike Caveney (or was it Pete Biro) do it years ago, but I don't remember too much.

I had one of the originals before Caveney... however he does it better than I do. At a recent convention he had just done it and there was a miscue backstage and he had to kill time... so he DID IT AGAIN... and it went over great.

Ali Bongo, at his recent lecture in Portland had a great version with the tiny one where a ring vanished and appeared inside the box.

Also, FYI, it (the original, which I saw in Europe at a FISM) was created by Lubor Fiedler.

How on earth did you hear about that story?It was hilarious. Bob had a seance newspaper and first did some gags like Bob without clown's nose, Bob with clown's nose. Bob without hat, Bob with hat and finally Bob with beard (up went the newspaper) Bob without beard.

I also heard a story about some magician always showing him the latest pocket card trick. So Bob bought all available pocket tricks and put them in one of those accordion style wallets. So the next time that guy came by and did a trick, Bob reached in his jacket, let the wallet open and about 80 or so packet tricks were dangling and he said: '' Got that one.'' :)

He had his 82nd birthday a couple of months ago, and we all chipped in a little so he could visit his daughter in Australia. I'm not sure if he's back yet.He's also still very busy thinking of new and funny routines. But he only performs them at Richard Ross' Magic Art Center in Bennebroek.

And yes, I should post more often, but only when I've got something sensible to say ;)

Originally posted by Herman Koster:He had his 82nd birthday a couple of months ;)

Don't make Bob an old man. He had his 80th birthday on February 8th. 1922was quite a good year for magic: Bob Driebeek, Billy McComb and VJ Astor(from Hungary, now living in Germany)born.Greetings Hans

Is anybody familiar with the contents of Bob Driebeek's "Aenigmas Rtsel"? It's a small book of Bob Driebeek's magic that was published several years ago. Any comments about the book would be appreciated.

I know that Stephen Minch has had a book featuring Bob Driebeek's magic in the pipeline for a number of years. When I last corresponded with Stephen Minch about this back in late 1999, the status of the book's publication was unclear as Bob Driebeek was still working on completing the original manuscript.

I look forward to the day when this book is published. I've read many positive things about Bob Driebeek. Peter Pit once wrote the following about him:

Bob was a very clever comedy magic person whose routines were marvelously spiced with wit, whim, and wonderful juggling with the Dutch language.

The fact that he was a close friend and confidant of Fred Kaps, one of the legends of our craft, also says a lot about Bob Driebeek's status as a magician.

Aenigma's Rtsel is a very nice book. It has something for everyone in it. Tricks with coins, cards, pens and mentalism. My favorite trick is with a die and a cardboard cup (like the Mac Donald's shakes come in) The die is under the cup and shaken, but the outcome is known by the magician. Very clever method. It fooled me the first time I saw it performed by Bob.The only thing is that the book is only published in German. I surely hope that one of these days an English book will be published, because Bob has a lot of clever ideas

hi,Bob Driebeek's book &#8220;Aenigmas Rtsel&#8221; was published in 1996 by sic! (Michael Sondermeyer and Uwe Schenk, also known for their book about magic for children, which was also translated into the English language) only in German language, but it is worth reading it, so if you can read German go on and buy it! The price is about 20 US $. In this book you will find a choice of fine close-up magic. Bob always likes to fool his fellow magicians, so you'll find some well known plots, but always with a difference. These routines are no pipe-dreams, Bob performed them in our club in Wuppertal, when he lived in our town for some years, and their were tons of laughter! :D He always tries to give credits.Bob writes his things in English and I did a little of pre-publishing translation. And I am quite lucky that I've read some parts of the planned book for the English speaking market. It combines history and nice effects. A chapter about Cheffalo and Okito is extremely funny.Greetings from GermanyHans

Q. Kumber wrote: in the photos appears to be a set of Gozinta Boxes, the original idea of Lubor Fiedler.

Yes, those are a small set of Gozinta boxes. I'd like to explore an alternative to the "chinese" design Bob Driebeek's item used for an ending, instead using large colored circles similar to the "color vision" block.

Q. Kumber wrote:I can't see any problem with you exploring the idea for your own personal use.

Me neither since it's just for my own use and while not commercial it is a matter of public display of an artwork.It feels like a matter of courtesy to ask the inventor or their delegate about doing something with the art/design of their item.

An ad in Magic, Aug 2002, said that Robert Bromley of England "has obtained the rights to re-manufacture the original Driebeck Die," and that "Robert has graciously granted the Exclusive WORLDWIDE distribution rights to Hocus Pocus."

They have one on their website, but it appears to be an estate item, and doesn't mention anything about Hocus Pocus having current rights to it. For that matter, I don't see that anyone, anywhere is actively making and selling them. But I certainly could be wrong about that.

Bromley releases stuff through Alakazam magic, so they might be able to help you contact him.

Hocus Pocus Magic has been operating in England longer than a different Hocus Pocus in the U.S.It is the UK Hocus Pocus that supplies the Rob Bromley products. I don't see it on their site nowbut up until recently they sold a miniature Driebeck Die.

Q. Kumber wrote:Hocus Pocus Magic has been operating in England longer than a different Hocus Pocus in the U.S.It is the UK Hocus Pocus that supplies the Rob Bromley products. I don't see it on their site nowbut up until recently they sold a miniature Driebeck Die.

It's a little late to say "thank you" to Lubor Fielder for the basic trick and Bob Driebeek for the kicker ending. Once the ideas of making a gift of the boxes and that feedback comment about the similarly sized color vision trick clicked... that's too good a visual to let sit in a notebook. Rather than any awkward "chinese" artwork - the simpler colored regions would announce "familiar magic shop item" and the stories (both real and magic design/scripting) move on.

With thanks to both of them for the inventions and nod to anyone else using the Fiedler or Driebeck routines,

Jon

PS This started with making a gift of a Gozinta set. An acquaintance used to do some magic and these days has limited dexterity. That's what motivated the bows/ribbons. Which also answered my questions about what to keep in the box and how to make the gift of the boxes "nice". As is his reply that the boxes reminded him of the "color vision" item they saw long ago. Up till that comment I was all happy to make another couple of elastic ribbons for the boxes and planning to go ahead into rehearsal for carrying the Lubor Gozinta boxes. How convenient to have a patter story that's also true.

So there's a magician learning to design and make his own props. He can just about make a card that looks like he wants for a trick when has occasion to make a bow/ribbon for a box. Did I tell you he's not the "arts and crafts" type so he's already feeling like a fish out of water. Then - trying to do something nice for someone - he realizes that after getting better at typing and fixing up a bow it's going to be thiin-walled-box fussing time and more art skills to learn.